SCV FOOD PANTRY SEEKS GIFT CARDS FOR HOLIDAY MEALS.

Byline: Daily News

NEWHALL - The Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry is seeking donations of grocery store gift cards so families in need can buy the food they need for holiday meals.

The goal of the ``Hunger Doesn't Take a Holiday'' program is to collect enough gift cards to distribute $10 per family member to qualifying families who use the food pantry to supplement their food budgets.

``We can accept gift cards at any time. Either mail them or drop them off at the food pantry and we will distribute them to our clients,'' said Jan Fear, secretary of the board of directors for the pantry.

The ``Hunger Doesn't Take a Holiday'' program is being introduced in conjunction with the communitywide Holiday Storefront/Toy Drive hosted by the county Sheriff's Department.

The program is a collaborative effort involving the Sheriff's Department, Single Mothers Outreach, the Santa Clarita Community Center and the local domestic violence center.

Local sheriff's deputies will initiate the toy drive and will distribute the toys in December, while the food gift cards will be distributed by pantry volunteers.

The Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry distributes supplemental food to more than 3,400 clients, half of them children. About 60 volunteers work together to sort food, prepare bags and assist clients.

Those who want to donate to the ``Hunger Doesn't Take a Holiday'' program can mail grocery gifts cards to, or drop them off at, the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry, 24133 Railroad Ave., Newhall, CA 91321. For information about food donations or volunteering, call center director Belinda Crawford at [phone].